Water Collection and Storage: The best way to gather water is in a downspout barrel that collects rainwater. Obtaining water this way is safer than collection from a pond or stream since they have a much greater chance of contamination. It is also a good point to note that many survivalist are changing to metal roofing as its weatherproof,fireproof, and has a smooth surface that is less likely to contaminate your water supply.

WATER PURIFICATION

1) Clear water is a sign of pure water. Always drain long-standing pipes for 30 seconds to one minute before drinking!

2) 1 Gallon water is disinfected by 8-16 drops of regular household bleach (visually about 1/4 of a teaspoon) – double that for cloudy water. Shake and let stand 30 minutes. One teaspoon will disinfect 5 gallons. Immediately after treating, water must initially have a slight smell of chlorine. If it does not – repeat the process.

3) Household bleach is relatively harmless. The smell or �waft� of chlorine is not bad: it indicates that water is treated and germ free. Once treated and disinfected, the chlorine smell will go away in a few days.

4) Regularly used water from large tanks may be treated once or twice a month with 1 Oz. bleach per 200 gallons or 5 Oz. bleach per 1000 gallons.

6) Bleach effectively kills bacteria and viruses, stops smells and then breaks down. It’s effective germ killing alkaline property is completely neutralized very quickly. It does not stay chemically active in tanks for more than a few days. Most germs require sunlight to grow. Store water in the dark.

7) If water is relatively clear: but has a noticeable smell of chlorine: it is drinkable, disinfected, and harmless. Humans need 2 quarts per day.

Food Storage:

Food being a very important commodity in any disaster should be carefully maintained and in good supply. Having dozens of cans of spoiled food will not do you much good in a disaster so try to be diligent in disposing of out of date food. Salt is very important to keep a healthy supply of it has literally dozens of purposes first and foremost food preservation. I would recommend keeping several cases of both iodised and non-iodised salt on hand. Use the iodised for food preparation and the rest for attracting game, preserving meats, and even use it to relieve the swelling and pain of a bee sting. So get several times more salt than you think you’ll need.

Now that we have plenty of salt lets discuss dry foods such as, beans, rice, and pasta. Rice should be high up on your list as it has a pretty good shelf life of up to 10 years. I would suggest getting around 100 pounds for a family of 4, since this should last around a year if combined with other food stuffs.

I know this sounds like a lot but it is better safe than sorry. I would also recommend keeping a similar supply of oats and pasta as they store for long periods of time and take up relatively small amounts of space for the amount of food they produce. You can make flour from whole wheat that will last years longer than regular flour. You just need to buy whole grain wheat and grind it into flour yourself.

I recommend keeping a supply of olive oil (frozen, in plastic bottles it will last about 4 years), mayonnaise, canned butter, and peanut butter. These products should be date checked at least once a year and disposed of when spoiled. I would suggest donating items a few months before going out of date to ensure they get used. Hey, it will make you feel better to know you didn’t waste the money and help feed someone in need. When considering what type of milk to buy I would suggest purchasing nonfat nitrogen packed as it has the longest shelf life of up to 5 years. It is recommended to keep to have at least a case of each canned fruit, vegetables, and meat per person per year. More if you do not live close to where you can hunt and fish to replenish supply. Sugar is another important commodity that should be stored in similar quantity as salt. It is useful for many reasons besides sweetening your tea.

Some other useful items are plastic bags and containers. For trash bags I would suggest “Husky” brand yard bags for their durability and price. Another item of importance is aluminum foil as it will serve various purposes both in food storage and prep. Lastly, don’t forget spices,vinegar,baking soda, and yeast.

Pots and Pans: These items may seem at first self-explanatory, but they will serve many purposes during your ordeal. I would suggest you use cast iron if possible for cooking as they are nearly indestructible. I would get several sizes including a dutch oven. It is great for cooking on a stove or outdoors in a fire pit. Dont forget to have a really large stewpot as you will need it to boil water for drinking, bathing, laundry, and dishwashing. Dont forget to have butchering and skinning tools that you might need if your planning on hunting game.

Personal check list: Have each family member make a person checklist of items that they will need such as, spare glasses, medications, and necessary hygiene products. Lastly, don’t forget “Comfort” items to help get through high stress times. (Books, games, CDs, chocolates, etc.)

Needed First Aid and Surgical Equipment: It is very possible that you and your family will be cut off from medical facilities and professionals. So it will be important for you to have a well stocked first aid kit. Note, I do not mean one of those little crappy ones from Wal-Mart with 100 band aids and a few packs of generic antibiotic ointment. In your kit you should have at the minimum 100 band aids of various sizes per person as well as several rolls of gauze. Know that there will be a need at some point to treat burns make sure you have plenty of burn ointment on hand. It is also a good idea to put together a minor surgical kit for dental procedures and other life threatening injuries. Remember to include as many strong painkillers and tubes of dental ointment as you can. Dont forget to include a few spools of heavy-duty thread and several small gauge sewing needles. Buy a full minor surgery outfit you can find them online through several distributors. It may come in handy and its better to be prepared for the worst than find out you need it later. Lastly, I would recommend you include some crazy glue. its great for closing small cuts after they have been disinfected. They have similar products available at the local drugstore made for this purpose with disinfectant already inside.

Hygiene and Sanitary Supplies: Since it is doubtful you will have running water you will need to make some sort of outhouse( I know yuck) but it will be necessary. Powdered lime is a great choice for managing the smell and keeping down bacteria. Remember to have it well away from any water sources you might be using. We don’t want that getting into your drinking water. You will also want to have a good supply of soaps( hand, dish, and laundry), disinfectants, shampoo, toothpaste,sunscreen, and feminine products.

Lighting and Power: It will be a good idea to have several crank rechargeable lights on hand. I have many myself that also have a solar charging feature so try to look for those they come in handy. You will want to be careful when using lights at night since it will call attention to you. Make sure you have black out screens or curtains to give the impression f vacancy. People without provisions and equipment will be looking for those that do in order to acquire them. For power I would suggest having a solar unit but as so few of us (me included) have this a second choice would be a diesel fueled generator. Even if you do not use a diesel generator I would suggest getting the largest diesel tank you can afford to use for farming equipment, chain saws, and vehicles. It will be easier to find after a disaster. Dont forget to have at least a few large fire extinguishers readily available in case of a mishap.

Survival Clothing and Gear: Try to purchase earth tones clothing that will allow you to disappear into the brush should you come into contact with less than savory individuals. Include cold/foul weather gear for each member of your household. Synthetic double-bag (modular) sleeping bags for each person just in case you need to leave your home for the outdoors. Most importantly, get to know your neighbors this can not be stressed enough. They will either be you chief source of competition or your lifesaver in a disaster. Mark the names of each person you know well on a map so that you can reference it later in bartering situations.

Security: It will be important to have at least a few guns safely stored away will a good stock of ammunition. I know a lot of you abhor the use of guns, but in many disaster situations they will come in handy. They are good for hunting as well so make sure you buy extra ammo accordingly. It couldn’t hurt to stop by your local hunting supply and ask what the most popular brands of shot are. These will be worth a great deal in a disaster and can be used for bartering.

Necessary Tools: There are many tools you want to have on hand that you might not have thought of. Most of you will have assumed you would need tools for working on vehicles and equipment. It will also be good to have tools for gardening, construction, and wood working. Now that you have the tools you need make a list of items that you use regularly such as work gloves, nails, duct tape, twine, and glue.

Well now that you can’t fit into your attic or park your car in the garage your ready for a disaster or a nap. It isn’t necessary to look at any single survival list as complete. I would suggest looking at a few and making your own to fit your own needs.